Gaining weight from medication changes

Has anyone had experience with gaining weight from medication changes? As of last fall, I weighed around 125lb on a 5'4 frame. My insurance company messed with my birth control prescription (I was on Yaz with no weight gain) and my weight sky-rocketed to almost 15 lbs more. Summer clothes that used to be a bit loose are now on the much snugger, should-I-even-be-wearing-this, side. 

I'm in graduate school and work full time, so I have a regretfully sedentary lifestyle with the exception of hitting the gym a few times a week, which I've always done. I've been eating even healthier and more low-cal than ever before for the last two months to combat the weight gain, and it's still there. I've also recently been diagnosed with Crohns and have a hard time keeping my body from rejecting what I eat. Yet the weight is still there! I just can't get rid of it, let alone keep it from rapidly gaining. I've been off the medication for a week now. I knew not to expect instant results, but I still feel incredibly hopeless. 

Has anyone else had a similar experience with birth control weight gain? How long did it take for it come off naturally? I can't cut my calories much more without being super unhealthy and there just aren't enough hours in a week for me to double my gym visits. 

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Pucker up

Perfect Rouge RS 612/326, £22, Shiseido http://www.shiseido.co.uk/

So, you've put on your favourite shade of lipstick, but over time your lips become dry...sound familiar? Some of you lucky ones may get away with 24hr fabulous pouts, but it's easy for lips to buckle under a bit of rouge. Shiseido have combated all your problems by introducing their Perfect Rouge range. The lipstick contains moisture-holding oil that leaves you with a beautifully, hydrated pucker. We tested the shades Rouge Parfait and Tender Sheer, both proving they can wrap your lips in 'luxurious moisture'. We're hooked.

By Lisa JC

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losing 12 kg in a year....!!!! effortless

recently most people have been commenting that i have lost weight and need new clothes. i thought they were bluffing until i went to the Dr. for a medical and stepped on the scale and realise i have lost 12 kg!!! i went from 96 kg to 84!!! even better i have reduced my cholesterol level drastically without prescribed medication!! i feel better and i am no longer so bloated.

how? well its really all in the mind!!! i love my food but have been trying to lose the weight and have simply made life changes.

i pretty much have my treats but in moderation and since i hate exercising except walking..i walk to work and back home everyday...1 hour in total.

since i am vegetarian...my daily food comprise of

Breakfast

hot porridge for breakfast with skimmed milk and tablespoon of raisins or i have a large bananas with a small tub of plain yoghurt with raisins and a drizzle of honey

cup of rooibos or other herbal tea (im not a big fan of sugar so i normally have mine plain)

midday snack...

normally an apple or handful of nuts or an open top sandwhich (my favourite is cream cheese and water cress!)

Lunch

I normally bring my lunch to work....if not i usually get a small container of fried rice (asian), lentils and salad

i usual place my lunch in medium container and can range from pasta with spicy tomato sauce or coconut vegetable curry to morrocan vegetarian tajine. i use lots of spices and fresh produce. i always have a small tub of salad ...not a fan of dressing if i need though i normally make mine with some lime juice, olive oil, salt pepper and little garlic.

afternoon snack

i normally have an orange or a few oats or coconut biscuits ...i bake during the weekend and make them vegan,,,,,my hardcore meatloving colleagues love them too...cant tell the difference!!!

Evening

i prepare similar to lunch. but sometimes i have roasted vegetable wraps or thick soups with lots of chunky veg or i add a teaspoon of nuts.

small tub of plain yoghurt with a drizzle of honey or a few smashed frozen strawberries.

other points

water water water.....dont force yourself to gulp down too much water at once.

i fill up a litre bottle and sip gradually from morning until 12pm. then afternoon i get a new refill and sip until 4. that makes 2 litres already!!! when i get home i have a large glass...since i walk. and another one with my dinner!! pronto.

Treats

choose a day to make it your treat day....Friday is my treat day. no i dont go crazy....there are things i love..,.like cheese and the occasional luxury ice-cream. i still eat 75 % healthy on friday but i sneak in my treat and savour every bite.

Finally, remember....dont think of it as a diet,,,think of it as a lifestyle change and dont obsess....i have tried many diets before and have never stuck with them or could not tolerate their demands. i have made a lifestyle changes and on my way to my goal of being a curvy size 12. i was once size 20. now im almost a 14!!!

This will not work for everyone but can be helpful to others.

cheers and all the best

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Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Tied to Risk for Other Cancers

TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- White people with skin cancer that is not melanoma may be at greater risk for developing other forms of cancer, according to a new study.

Patients with basal cell carcinoma had a 15 percent greater risk than other people of eventually having another type of cancer, researchers found. Meanwhile, patients with squamous cell carcinoma had a 26 percent increased risk.

Although melanoma is more deadly, it is much less common than other types of skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

In conducting the new study, researchers led by Dr. Jiali Han, an associate professor at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, examined two large U.S. studies involving more than 51,000 male health professionals and nearly 122,000 female nurses. Among white participants, researchers identified more than 36,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and more than 29,000 new cases of other forms of cancer.

When considering only non-melanoma skin cancers, the researchers found men with skin cancer had an 11 percent greater risk for other types of cancer. Women had a 20 percent higher risk.

More specifically, the study revealed women with non-melanoma skin cancer were at greater risk for melanoma, as well as breast and lung cancers. Men were at increased risk for melanoma.

Although the study found an association between having non-melanoma skin cancer and future risk for other cancers, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

"This prospective study found a modestly increased risk of subsequent [cancers] among individuals with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, specifically breast and lung cancer in women and melanoma in both men and women," the study authors wrote. "Because our study was observational, these results should be interpreted cautiously and are insufficient evidence to alter current clinical recommendations."

The researchers concluded that more research is needed to investigate the link between skin cancer and other forms of cancer.

The study appeared April 23 in the journal PLoS Medicine.

-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCE: PLoS Medicine, news release, April 23, 2013

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Is it unsafe to feed solid foods to my 2-month-old daughter?

Posted June 20, 2013, 2:00 am

I’ve started giving pureed solid foods to my 2-month-old daughter. My sister doesn’t think this is safe. What’s your opinion?

I agree that it’s too soon. Pediatricians advise waiting until a baby is 4 months old to introduce solid foods. You can even wait a bit longer. Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula provides all the nutrients your baby needs for the first 6 months. There is no proven benefit from introducing solid foods before 4 months, and there are risks.

Babies younger than 4 months are not physically ready for solid foods. They usually cannot sit up by themselves or hold their heads up well. Also, the muscles in the mouth that help guide solid food into the back of the throat and then down into the stomach are not fully developed. This means that when they try to swallow solid foods into the stomach, the food can drop down into the lungs, not the stomach. That’s called aspiration, and it can cause pneumonia.

Giving solids before 4 months may increase the risk of obesity, Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, although these disease links are not solidly established. It may also increase the risk of eczema and of food allergies. Breast-fed babies who start solids early tend to stop breast-feeding sooner. Given all we know about the health benefits of breast-feeding, that’s not a good thing.

Most babies develop the ability to eat solid foods at 4 to 6 months. But even when your baby is ready, learning to eat solids takes time and practice.

Before you begin, talk with your pediatrician. Most recommend one of the iron-fortified infant cereals, such as rice, oatmeal or barley, for the first food. These types of cereals are least likely to cause allergies. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange juice, can help the absorption of iron.

There is no value, and there is potential harm, from adding either salt or table sugar to the food. You will still be giving the baby milk or formula as you gradually introduce solid foods. Be careful not to feed the baby too many calories. Your pediatrician or a nutritionist can help you plan.

Watch for symptoms of allergy, such as rash, wheezing, stomachache, diarrhea, gas, fussiness or vomiting. If you notice any of these things, stop giving the food in question and consult your pediatrician.

Also keep the following in mind as you start your baby on solids:

Add only one new food at a time. Wait five to seven days between new foods so that you have time to watch for a possible allergy.Do not give honey to your infant before 1 year. Honey can cause life-threatening food poisoning (botulism).Wait until your child is at least 3 years old to give small, round or hard foods that can cause choking. Examples include grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, hot dogs, raisins, nuts, seeds, jelly beans and other hard candies. window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: "199616670120169", status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true});}; (function() { var e = document.createElement("script"); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"; document.getElementById("fb-root").appendChild(e);}());

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Dev Patel and Olivia Munn on the set of Newsroom in New York

Why The XX’s new track is the bell of Gatsby’s ball. Plus, the latest from Sigur Rós, Charli XCX, Waxahatchee and Daniel Johnston »

Read more »

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Ultrasound Best Detector of Dangerous Ectopic Pregnancies, Study Finds

TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg grows in the fallopian tubes or other spots outside the uterus, typically leads to miscarriage and can even prove fatal.

Now, a review of the data finds that taking a patient's history along with a clinical exam is not enough to diagnose the condition in women with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy.

Instead, the researchers concluded that transvaginal ultrasound is the single best way to evaluate suspected ectopic pregnancy. These scans examine a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix and vagina.

One expert not connected to the study said detecting ectopic pregnancy early on is crucial.

"Risks from this complication include hemorrhage from rupture, death, and loss of the [fallopian] tube, either from rupture or surgical removal," said Dr. Kecia Gaither, vice chair of obstetrics & gynecology and director of maternal-fetal medicine at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, in New York City. "Patients typically present with abdominal pain, spotting and a positive pregnancy test."

Nevertheless, "fewer than half of the women with an ectopic pregnancy have the classically described symptoms of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. In fact, these symptoms are more likely to indicate miscarriage," wrote the team of researchers led by Dr. John Crochet of the Center of Reproductive Medicine in Webster, Texas. That means that confirming a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is especially important.

For this review, published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers analyzed 14 studies that included a total of more than 12,000 patients.

The study confirms that "the gold standard for diagnosis is an ultrasound," Gaither said. "Depending on the clinical stability of the patient, a laparoscopic surgical procedure or a laparotomy may [also] be required," she added.

"For any patient who is pregnant in the first trimester -- and has not had a sonogram -- who experiences sudden onset of abdominal pain and spotting, it is important to go to the nearest hospital to be evaluated for an ectopic pregnancy," Gaither said. "The trip may be lifesaving."

One other expert agreed.

"Ectopic pregnancy poses such a risk to patients of childbearing age that it should always be considered when a patient is pregnant and has abdominal pain," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. "Good surveillance with early ultrasound and close follow-up ... can significantly lessen risks, which include emergency surgery and transfusion."

According to background information in the review, ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester and causes up to 6 percent of pregnant women's deaths in the early stages of pregnancy.

-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Jennifer Wu, M.D, obstetrician/gynecologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Kecia Gaither, M.D, vice chair of obstetrics & gynecology, and director, maternal-fetal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, New York City; Journal of the American Medical Association, news release, April 23, 2013

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caloric intake and vanity pounds

Hi :)

I have recently put on a bit of weight, mostly because I had exams and so little time for exercise whereas I was eating more then usual, simply because I was exhausted from all the studying and felt I need more energy.

Now, exams being over, I started regular exercise again (5-7 days/week, some days running, other days light weights, normally half to one hour per day).

I eat healthily - lots of fruit and vegetables, and as I am vegetarian, I upped my protein intake (as that was a bit lacking).

I am 19 years old, 54kg and 1.61m, I would like to get back to 51kg.

My normal day/meals:

BREAKFAST

2 slices of wholegrain bread with hummus

SNACK

smoothie (1 banana, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, spinach, 1 cup berries)

LUNCH

pasta with vegetable tomato sauce and salad (leafy greens)

or

vegetable risotto with salad (tomato salad, leafy greens, etc.)

SNACK

fruit (banana, pear, apple, etc.)

DINNER

another smoothie (2 bananas, cocoa powder, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, berries)

Now, the problem (only considering weight loss :) ) is that I love to bake, as does my mum - for instance, we made this wonderful cinnamon apple bundt cake. I love bundt cakes and cannot get enough of them - I can easily finish off half of it (sometimes more *blush*) in a single day.

Basically, my question is - how "bad" for my desired weight loss are such "slip-ups", what is my optimum calorie intake (the calculators seem to give me numbers between 1500 and 2100) and... basically am I eating OK for my goal weight and general health?

Thanks a lot :)

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Deadly Meningitis Cases Worry Gay Community

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- A series of bacterial meningitis cases in Southern California and New York City, resulting in the deaths of several gay men, have set the gay community on edge. However, preliminary tests suggest the cases on each coast aren't connected.

Health activists became concerned in Los Angeles after a 33-year-old gay attorney from West Hollywood suddenly became ill from meningitis and died on April 13. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which advocates for health for gay men, initially criticized local health officials for not pushing for vaccinations. However, "we don't think it's part of an outbreak or due to him being a gay man," said Dr. Wayne Chen, the organization's acting chief of medicine.

Still, the Los Angeles County's public health department is offering meningitis vaccinations for free for those who are poor or uninsured.

In New York City, health officials are recommending that certain groups of gay and bisexual men, along with certain visitors to the city, get vaccinated against meningitis.

According to Los Angeles County health officials, four cases of meningitis in gay or bisexual men have been confirmed in the region since December, including one 30-year-old who died of meningitis in Los Angeles, and another man of the same age who died in the San Diego area, both in December, according to news reports.

The officials say the four Los Angeles cases in gay and bisexual men don't appear to be "highly related" to those elsewhere in Southern California or in New York City.

In New York City, officials have noted more than 20 meningitis cases since 2010 in gay or bisexual men; seven of the men died. The city recommends vaccinations for any HIV-infected gay or bisexual men and those who have had close or intimate contact with men they met via websites, apps or at bars or parties. Visitors who have been to the city since Sept. 1 and engaged in these types of activities should get vaccinated too, city officials added.

Meningitis is transmitted through close contact with an infected person and kills, often quickly, by causing the lining around the brain to swell. It commonly spreads through places where people live closely together, such as dorms and military housing.

Meningitis hasn't previously been connected to gay men in particular, Chen said.

Many people have the bacteria that cause meningitis in their nasal passages, but the germs often don't cause problems, said infectious disease specialist Dr. William Schaffner, chair of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "They can carry these bacteria for long periods of time and transmit them to other people without being aware of the process."

The germs can create a mild illness at first that can quickly turn deadly, especially if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream, he said.

"You feel kind of punky, and you maybe have a sore throat," Schaffner said. "You lose your appetite, you get drowsy. Then you can slip into a coma."

Antibiotics effectively treat bacterial meningitis, he said, but they must be given quickly. That's why people should seek medical care if they suffer from symptoms like stiff neck, high fever (beyond 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit) or severe headache, he said.

Meningitis vaccines cost about $100, Chen said, and can cause side effects that are similar to those possible in people who get flu vaccines. The vaccines work against most strains of meningitis, Schaffner said, and take 10 to 14 days to become effective.

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: William Schaffner, M.D., professor and chair, department of preventive medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.; Wayne Chen, M.D., acting chief, medicine, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles

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Runners and the Shoes

We all have that one pair of shoes . . . They were one of your greatest loves, and they will stick in your mind like that one race where you kept pace with the Olympic athlete for an entire mile . . .

Some may even have that one brand that just make your feet's dopamine levels go all silly.

For me, the shoes are the Asics Gel-Kanbarra. Those shoes were for my first track season. There are also the GT-2160s. My castle on a cloud, I will never forget those beauties . . .

Out of all the brands I've tried, I've found that Asics gives me support and keeps me from being encumbered by cushioning.

What works for you guys, runners?

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Extra dimension eyes

Opalesse Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, £16.50, MAC Cosmetics http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/

This eye shadow has quickly become our new MAC obsession. As part of MAC's new Extra Dimension collection, Opalesse is an ideal shimmer for summer. One sweep of the shadow gives lids a stunning combination of opalescent white and pink pearl with hints of subtle blue and green reflecting through. The Extra Dimension range is perfect for show-shopping, statement eyes. Opalesse in particular, is ideal for highlighting the brow bone or the inner corner of the eye; instantly brightening a daytime-to-night time look.

By Lisa JC

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Peter Facinelli at the premiere of Iron Man 3 in Los Angeles

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Could 'Moderate' Drinking Be Safe During Pregnancy?

British study finds no problems with balance in kids, but some experts have concerns about the findings

By Alan Mozes

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.

Researchers assessed the long-term health impact of drinking while pregnant by testing roughly 7,000 10-year-olds on their balancing abilities, a method that offers a reliable reflection of fetal neurodevelopment. For the study, "moderate" alcohol consumption was defined as between three to seven glasses of alcohol a week.

The research team cautioned, however, that other variables, such as maternal wealth and education, might have influenced the findings.

The bottom line, according to study co-author John Mcleod, is that "[there's] certainly no evidence that moderate alcohol use by pregnant mums is good for their kids, and [there are] reasons to be cautious about other messages around 'benefits' of moderate alcohol use by pregnant mums. But equally, [there's] no strong evidence for important harmful effects."

Macleod, chair of clinical epidemiology and primary care with the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, and his colleagues discuss their findings in the June 17 online edition of BMJ Open.

The research comes on the heels of another British study, released in April, which reported no connection between "light" drinking (one to two drinks per week) during pregnancy and increased risk for mental defects among children at the age of 7.

For the new study, the researchers focused on 6,915 children from southwest England who had participated in the larger Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

The team first analyzed maternal drinking habits self-reported at both the 18-week mark of pregnancy and then again when the children were 4 years old.

The vast majority of mothers -- 70 percent -- said they drank no alcohol during pregnancy, while 25 percent said they had consumed drinks in the range of "low" (one to two per week) to "moderate" amounts on a weekly basis. Among such drinkers, one in seven had actually engaged in "binge drinking," meaning at least four glasses of alcohol at a sitting.

By the time their children were 4 years of age, 50 percent of the mothers said they consumed three to seven glasses of alcohol weekly. The research team noted that those who drank moderately were older, more affluent and better educated.

At the age of 10, the children underwent two balance tests, which included walking across a balance beam (to assess so-called "dynamic balance"); standing heel-to-toe on a beam with eyes open and closed (to assess "static balance"); and standing on just one leg, eyes open and closed.

The result: moderate maternal (and paternal) drinking while pregnant, and maternal drinking after delivery appeared to be associated with better overall balance, particularly in terms of static balance.

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